Common use of Access Partnership Programme Clause in Contracts

Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.1 We will work together to sustain those aspects of the Aimhigher project that we consider to have proved their efficacy in raising aspirations, attainment and progression by creating a new Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.2 We are convinced that this is necessary in view of the considerable challenge faced by higher education institutions in communicating the continued benefits of participation in higher education and the arrangements that will pertain from 2012 onwards, especially to learners in our target groups. We will therefore establish this Access Partnership Programme from September 2011, in advance of any increased funding from the new tuition fees. 5.10.3 Our Access Partnership Programme will focus on a number of clearly defined target groups. These are: - Learners from lower socio-economic groups, defined as NS-SEC 4-7; Learners from low participation neighbourhoods, as defined in POLAR2; Learners from black and minority ethnic groups that are under-represented in higher education; Learners with disabilities; and Learners from vulnerable groups such as young people leaving care. 5.10.4 Our Access Partnership Programme will operate within the University‟s main catchment area, broadly defined as described by; the radius from its main campuses within which the majority of its UK students are recruited; the geography of its UK partnerships and the borders of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership. We have divided this catchment into four areas. These are: i. Nottingham, Grantham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northamptonshire ii. Bedford and Milton Keynes; iii. Central Bedfordshire, Aylesbury and South East Oxfordshire; and iv. Luton, North Hertfordshire and outer North London 5.10.5 We recognise that members of our target groups will also be located outside our main catchment areas and that further outreach activity beyond these immediate boundaries may also be required. 5.10.6 Our Access Partnership Programme will consist of a number of key elements, directed at members of the target groups, within the defined catchment. These activities, which have been selected on the basis of their proven efficacy, include an engagement framework for schools, a mentoring and progression programme, use of Partnership Officers and progression accords. 5.10.7 In addition to the above we propose to extend the Programme further by the initiation of a number of projects in areas such as progression from Apprenticeships and an Access Research programme to support research and consultancy around social mobility, fair access, and widening participation. 5.10.8 We recognize the complexity of the new student fee and financial support arrangements and the difficulties that will pose for appropriately targeted communication. This necessitates the continued and increased commitment of our Marketing and Schools Liaison teams to systematic outreach and access activity.

Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.1 We will work together to sustain those aspects of the Aimhigher project that we consider to have proved their efficacy in raising aspirations, attainment and progression by creating a new Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.2 We are convinced that this is necessary in view of the considerable challenge faced by higher education institutions in communicating the continued benefits of participation in higher education and the arrangements that will pertain from 2012 onwards, especially to learners in our target groups. We will therefore establish this Access Partnership Programme from September 2011, in advance of any increased funding from the new tuition fees. 5.10.3 Our Access Partnership Programme will focus on a number of clearly defined target groups. These are: - • Learners from lower socio-economic groups, defined as NS-SEC 4-7; • Learners from low participation neighbourhoods, as defined in POLAR2; • Learners from black and minority ethnic groups that are under-represented in higher education; • Learners with disabilities; and • Learners from vulnerable groups such as young people leaving care. 5.10.4 Our Access Partnership Programme will operate within the University‟s University’s main catchment area, broadly defined as described by; the radius from its main campuses within which the majority of its UK students are recruited; the geography of its UK partnerships and the borders of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership. We have divided this catchment into four areas. These are: i. Nottingham, Grantham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northamptonshire ii. Bedford and Milton Keynes; iii. Central Bedfordshire, Aylesbury and South East Oxfordshire; and iv. Luton, North Hertfordshire and outer North London 5.10.5 We recognise that members of our target groups will also be located outside our main catchment areas and that further outreach activity beyond these immediate boundaries may also be required. 5.10.6 Our Access Partnership Programme will consist of a number of key elements, directed at members of the target groups, within the defined catchment. These activities, which have been selected on the basis of their proven efficacy, include an engagement framework for schools, a mentoring and progression programme, use of Partnership Officers and progression accords. 5.10.7 In addition to the above we propose to extend the Programme further by the initiation of a number of projects in areas such as progression from Apprenticeships and an Access Research programme to support research and consultancy around social mobility, fair access, and widening participation. 5.10.8 We recognize the complexity of the new student fee and financial support arrangements and the difficulties that will pose for appropriately targeted communication. This necessitates the continued and increased commitment of our Marketing and Schools Liaison teams to systematic outreach and access activity.

Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.1 6.1 We will continue to work together with our partners to sustain those aspects of the Aimhigher project that we consider to have proved their efficacy in raising aspirations, attainment and progression by creating a new an effective Access Partnership Programme. 5.10.2 . We are convinced that consider this is necessary in view of remains critical given the considerable continuing challenge faced by higher education institutions in communicating the continued benefits of participation in higher education and the arrangements that will pertain from 2012 onwards, especially to learners in our target groups. We will therefore establish this Access Partnership Programme from September 2011, in advance of any increased funding from the new tuition feeseducation. 5.10.3 6.2 Our Access Partnership Programme will focus focuses on a number of clearly defined target groups. These are: - : a. Learners from lower socio-economic groups, defined as NS-SEC 4-7; ; b. Learners from low participation neighbourhoods, as defined in POLAR2; ; c. Learners from black and minority ethnic groups that are under-represented in higher education; ; d. Learners with disabilities; and and e. Learners from vulnerable groups such as young people leaving care. 5.10.4 6.3 Our Access Partnership Programme will operate operates within the University‟s main catchment area, broadly defined as described by; the radius from its main campuses within which the majority of its UK students are recruited; the geography of its UK partnerships and the borders of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership. We have divided this catchment into four areas. These are: i. a. Nottingham, Grantham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northamptonshire ii. Bedford x. Xxxxxxx and Milton KeynesXxxxxx Xxxxxx; iii. c. Central Bedfordshire, Aylesbury and South East Oxfordshire; and iv. and d. Luton, North Hertfordshire and outer North London 5.10.5 6.4 We recognise that members of our target groups will also be located outside our main catchment areas – in particular the outer London boroughs and those locations convenient to our main train routes - so that further outreach activity beyond these immediate boundaries may also be required. 5.10.6 6.5 Our Access Partnership Programme will consist consists of a number of key elements, directed at members of the target groups, within the defined catchment. These activities, which have been selected on the basis of their proven efficacy, include an engagement framework for schools, a mentoring and progression programme, use of Partnership Officers and progression accords. Specifically we will work with schools, colleges and local authorities to: 6.5.1 Support the development of Academies. We currently sponsor one, are a partner in another and have a close working relationship with two more through our relationship with their sponsor, which is also a partner FE College. 5.10.7 6.5.2 Support the development of University Technical Colleges. We are currently involved with three local proposals. 6.5.3 Support the development of the young people‟s workforce through extensive partnership work to develop teachers in schools and colleges, based in our School of Education. 6.5.4 Assess and engage with strategic opportunities such as those offered by University Training Schools and University Schools. 6.5.5 Work to bridge the gap left by changes to the provision of information, advice and guidance about higher education and support for the development of an all-age careers service. 6.6 Examples of the work the Access Partnership Programme is undertaking include: 6.6.1 An engagement framework for target schools and colleges – in the form of a coherent, progressive programme of activity for learners, typically running from year 9 to year 13 in schools and across the student population in FE colleges, including those on Access Courses. 6.6.2 A mentoring programme for learners in these target schools and colleges which will allocate learners to an undergraduate „associate‟ who will support learners to progress through school or college and into higher education. 6.6.3 The agreement of a progression accord with each school or college which will specify the respective contributions of the school or college, the University and the learners. 6.6.4 A „primary school‟ engagement programme focused on primary age learners in the primary schools most local to the University‟s main campuses. This will aim to establish, at an early age, the aspiration to participate in higher education among learners from the target groups. 6.6.5 A vocational progression programme designed to sustain and improve the numbers of students progressing from level 3 programmes in the target schools and colleges to HE programmes in the University and those progressing from Foundation Degrees and other sub-graduate programmes in the partner colleges to Honours degrees in the University. 6.6.6 A team of Access Partnership Officers, appointed to manage and help deliver the engagement, advisory and mentoring programmes described above, to the learners in the target schools and colleges within the agreed geographical areas and to learners within the University. 6.7 In addition to the above we propose to extend are extending the Programme further by the initiation of a number of projects in areas such as progression from Apprenticeships and an Access Research programme to support research and consultancy around social mobility, fair access, and widening participation. 5.10.8 6.8 We recognize the complexity of the new student fee and financial support arrangements and the difficulties that will pose for appropriately targeted communication. This necessitates the continued and increased commitment of our Marketing and Schools Liaison teams to systematic outreach and access activity.